This fall, I’m at The Banff Centre attending an artist residiency program. I’m here to work on my other ongoing project, Ventwittoquisms, but I brought along my audio equipment to record a series of tones from the Alberta region of Canada. I’m hoping I’ll be able to capture the sound of Elk in rutting season, but I can’t be sure I’ll have that kind of luck.
I’m here for 7 weeks of Experimental Comedy Training Camp. Led by artist Michael Portnoy, the purpose of the Camp is “to make your art work funnier.” I’m working with seriously silly and talented artists from around Canada, the States, Finland and England. When we’re not reading comedy theory, making prank phone calls, having studio visits or performing, I’ll be fishing around for tone contributions from those attending the Camp with me. Perhaps I’ll even get some from those who are leading and visiting the program (such as one of my sound-making heroes, Reggie Watts).
If you happen to live in Banff and have an idea for a sound that’s special to this region, time permitting, I’d love to work with you to capture it out in the field. Just reach out to me here, or write to me directly at locallytoned *at* gmail dot com. Scroll down to see a some of my snapshots from Banff / Experimental Comedy Training Camp.
T. Foley’s “Popcorn Eating Act” with Hector the Dummy (of Ventwittoquisms)
Michael Portnoy introduces artist Sean Joseph Patrick Carney
Artist Bridget Moser’s chair bit at Performance Night
Michael Portnoy, Director of Behaviour at Experimental Comedy Training Camp, gets his 5 minutes at our first Performance Night
Artist collective Fake Injury Party–Derrick Guerin, Scott Leeming & Paul Tjepkema (video still)
Still from Maarit Suomi-Vaananen’s “In a Misty Musty Thicket”
Neil LaPierre’s “Take Control of Your Life” improvement sessions (with artist Birony Clarke)
Emily McIntyre & Selina Doroshenko–Nothing Special–sport spectacular outfits each and every day.
Slide from visiting artist Steven M. Johnson’s lecture
Artist Steven M. Johnson talks about his work
The Banff Centre is situated within a National Park–stunning vistas are everywhere.
